Increasing social network effect in queue management applications

ABSTRACT

The current disclosure describes a preselected information sharing application (PISA) system configured to generate a virtual queue dataset for a facility using data received from different users via a facility customer application (FCA) on devices of the users. The system further includes a facility management application (FMA) on devices within the facility configured to generate an interactive hyperlink associated to the facility and request the users within the virtual queue dataset to share the interactive hyperlink on social media platforms associated to the users. The FMA then monitors the activation of the interactive hyperlink by other users, and accordingly updates the virtual queue dataset to include other users and notify all users in the virtual queue dataset regarding the updated virtual queue dataset in real-time.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 15/707,443, filed Sep. 18, 2017, which claimspriority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/395,762,filed on Sep. 16, 2016, U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No.62/395,725, filed on Sep. 16, 2016, and U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 62/395,689, filed on Sep. 16, 2016, each of whichis hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention generally relates to communication systems andmore specifically to a multi-functional integrated communications systemapplication for enhancing communication between customers and a facilitymanagement through use of automated agents.

BACKGROUND

Businesses create marketing campaigns to advertise their products tocertain consumer demographics with the purpose of convincing somepercentage of consumers to purchase their products. However, thesemarketing campaigns can be costly and sometimes ineffective unlessinterested potential consumers are the ones receiving the marketinginformation. The communication of marketing information to the consumersrequires adequate real-time consumer information, which may requireactively monitoring potential consumers. As the processing power ofcomputers allow for greater computer functionality and the Internettechnology era allows for interconnectivity between computing systems,many facilities virtually manage their resources and customer demand. Asan example, using a service line in recent year's digital electroniccommunication has opened up new concepts of “virtual queues”, whichallow the customers/users to get in line/queue of a facility withoutbeing physically present. Allowing the customers in the virtual queue ofthe facility to promote resources of the facility to other potentialcustomers can be desirable to increase network effect for the line, andincrease the overall user base. Social media is a growing focus for manyentities/facilities trying to monitor potential customers and forpromoting their resources and goods. Using social media,entities/facilities are able to interact with potential customers on amore personal level than may be done through traditional advertisingtechniques. However, current virtual queue technology has not been ableto utilize the social media, preventing social media promotionalactivities to be carried out because several technical challenges haverendered social media promotional activity task impractical. Forexample, current queue management software solutions have yet not beenwidely unsuccessful to integrate with the social media because it istechnically challenging to create a unified software solution to be insynchronous contact with different parties (e.g., different people inthe queue, potential other users trying to buy or sell their positionswithin the queue, and the facility, which may desire to monitor thequeue), continuously monitor the queue, and update the parties in realtime. Creating a unified software solution to address theabove-mentioned problems is also technically challenging becauserequiring all the parties to use the same application may create anegative user experience. For example, some users may not desire to loginto a unified system to create a reservation at a facility, changetheir position within the queue of the facility, or share queueinformation on their social media regarding the facility.

SUMMARY

For the aforementioned reasons, there is a need for an accurate,efficient, and user-friendly computer-implemented system and method tocollect user data, generate, monitor, and optimize a virtual queuedataset, allow interactions between the users, potential customers, andthe facility, continuously monitor and re-evaluate the queue dataset,and disseminate queue information to potential customers. The currentdisclosure describes a system and method that allows for re-ordering ofuser backlogs, eliminating traditional chronological ordering approachwithout resulting in social friction between customers in line andaccount for the facilities preferences when optimizing the queue.

In an embodiment, a computer-implemented method comprises querying, bythe server, a plurality of data records within a database configured tostore data records containing information about a plurality offacilities and a queue dataset associated with each facility comprisingat least one user, wherein the queue dataset is a data recordrepresenting a queue of a plurality of users at each facility, andwherein each user within each queue dataset is ranked based on a rankingvalue within the queue; identifying, by the server, a first queuedataset corresponding to a first facility and having at least a firstuser associated with a first ranking; transmitting, by the server,during a first session on a channel within a communication platformassociated with a bot coupled with the server, a first notification tothe computing device of the first user, wherein the first notificationcomprises a request to share the first user's first ranking value and anincentive value for the first user, and wherein the communicationplatform is configured to receive the user request and route the userrequest to the bot of the server via a bot connector; upon receiving anapproval from the first user during the first session, generating, bythe server, an interactive hyperlink, wherein the interactive hyperlinkis configured upon activation to direct a second user computing deviceto a web page containing an identification of the first facility, thefirst ranking value, and an invitation to join the first queue, andwherein the interactive hyperlink is configured to be displayed in amessage disseminated on a social media account associated with the firstuser; transmitting, by the server, the interactive hyperlink to a socialmedia application executing on the computing device of the first user,whereby the server causes the social media application to generate themessage containing the interactive hyperlink on the social media accountassociated with the first user; receiving, by the server, an indicationthat the second user has activated the interactive hyperlink;transmitting, by the server, during a second session on a second channelwithin a second communication platform associated with the bot coupledwith the server, a second notification to a computing device of thesecond user, wherein the second notification comprises a request for anidentifier associated with the second user; upon receiving theidentifier associated with the second user, updating, by the server, thefirst queue dataset to include the second user within the first queuedataset; and transmitting, by the server, during the first session onthe channel within the communication platform associated with the botcoupled with the server, a third notification to the computing device ofthe first user, wherein the third notification comprises a confirmationmessage that the second user has activated the interactive hyperlink andhas been included in the first queue dataset; and causing, by theserver, a graphical user interface displayed on a computing device ofthe first facility to display a fourth notification comprising theidentifier associated with the second user and the first queue dataset.

In another embodiment, a computer system comprises a server, which isconfigured to query a plurality of data records within a databaseconfigured to store data records containing information about aplurality of facilities and a queue dataset associated with eachfacility comprising at least one user, wherein the queue dataset is adata record representing a queue of a plurality of users at eachfacility, and wherein each user within each queue dataset is rankedbased on a ranking value within the queue; identify a first queuedataset corresponding to a first facility and having at least a firstuser associated with a first ranking; transmit during a first session ona channel within a communication platform associated with a bot coupledwith the server, a first notification to the computing device of thefirst user, wherein the first notification comprises a request to sharethe first user's first ranking value and an incentive value for thefirst user, and wherein the communication platform is configured toreceive the user request and route the user request to the bot of theserver via a bot connector; upon receiving an approval from the firstuser during the first session, generate an interactive hyperlink,wherein the interactive hyperlink is configured upon activation todirect a second user computing device to a web page containing anidentification of the first facility, the first ranking value, and aninvitation to join the first queue, and wherein the interactivehyperlink is configured to be displayed in a message disseminated on asocial media account associated with the first user; transmit theinteractive hyperlink to a social media application executing on thecomputing device of the first user, whereby the server causes the socialmedia application to generate the message containing the interactivehyperlink on the social media account associated with the first user;receive an indication that the second user has activated the interactivehyperlink; transmit during a second session on a second channel within asecond communication platform associated with the bot coupled with theserver, a second notification to a computing device of the second user,wherein the second notification comprises a request for an identifierassociated with the second user; upon receiving the identifierassociated with the second user, update the first queue dataset toinclude the second user within the first queue dataset; and transmitduring the first session on the channel within the communicationplatform associated with the bot coupled with the server, a thirdnotification to the computing device of the first user, wherein thethird notification comprises a confirmation message that the second userhas activated the interactive hyperlink and has been included in thefirst queue dataset; and cause a graphical user interface displayed on acomputing device of the first facility to display a fourth notificationcomprising the identifier associated with the second user and the firstqueue dataset.

The above summary does not include an exhaustive list of all aspects ofthe present disclosure. It is contemplated that the disclosure includesall systems and methods that can be practiced from all suitablecombinations of the various aspects summarized above, as well as thosedisclosed in the Detailed Description below, and particularly pointedout in the claims filed with the application. Such combinations haveparticular advantages not specifically recited in the above summary.Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the accompanying drawings and from the detailed description thatfollows below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is illustrated by way of example, and not by wayof limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings and in whichlike reference numerals refer to similar elements and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an architectural diagram of a pre-selectedinformation sharing application (PISA), according to an exemplaryembodiment.

FIG. 2 illustrates a bot diagram that may be employed by the PISA incase of utilization via a chat application, according to an exemplaryembodiment.

FIG. 3 illustrates an architectural diagram of a facility customerapplication (FCA) that may be employed by PISA, according to anexemplary embodiment.

FIG. 4 illustrates an architectural diagram of a facility managementapplication (FMA) that may be employed by PISA, according to anexemplary embodiment.

FIG. 5 illustrates an architectural diagram of a content managementapplication (CMA) that may be employed by PISA, according to anexemplary embodiment.

FIG. 6 illustrates an architectural diagram of PISA applied forassessing and managing a restaurant line in order to optimize restaurantresources and capacity, according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 7 illustrates a preselected information sharing method employed byPISA, according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 8 shows execution of a method for promoting a facility, accordingto an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 9A illustrates a graphical user interface showing a webpageexecuted on a computing device of a user, according to an exemplaryembodiment.

FIG. 9B illustrates a graphical user interface showing a webpage of aFMA of a facility, according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 9C illustrates a graphical user interface showing a webpage of aFMA of a facility, according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 9D illustrates a graphical user interface showing a webpage of aFCA executed on a computing device of a user, according to an exemplaryembodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth.However, it is understood that embodiments of the invention may bepracticed without these specific details. In other instances, well-knowncircuits, structures, and techniques have not been shown in detail inorder not to obscure the understanding of this description.

In the following description, reference is made to the accompanyingdrawings, which illustrate several embodiments of the present invention.It is understood that other embodiments may be utilized, and mechanicalcompositional, structural, electrical, and operational changes may bemade without departing from the spirit and scope of the presentdisclosure. The following detailed description is not to be taken in alimiting sense, and the scope of the embodiments of the presentinvention is defined only by the claims of the issued patent.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention.Spatially relative terms, such as “beneath”, “below”, “lower”, “above”,“upper”, and the like may be used herein for ease of description todescribe one element's or feature's relationship to another element(s)or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. It will be understood thatthe spatially relative terms are intended to encompass differentorientations of the device in use or operation in addition to theorientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in thefigures is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” otherelements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elementsor features. Thus, the exemplary term “below” can encompass both anorientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented(e.g., rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatiallyrelative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.

As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” are intended toinclude the plural forms as well, unless the context indicatesotherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”and/or “comprising” specify the presence of stated features, steps,operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude thepresence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations,elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

The terms “or” and “and/or” as used herein are to be interpreted asinclusive or meaning any one or any combination. Therefore, “A, B or C”or “A, B and/or C” mean any of the following: A; B; C; A and B; A and C;B and C; A, B and C.” An exception to this definition will occur onlywhen a combination of elements, functions, steps or acts are in some wayinherently mutually exclusive.

Several embodiments of the invention with reference to the appendeddrawings are now explained. Whenever the shapes, relative positions andother aspects of the parts described in the embodiments are not clearlydefined, the scope of the invention is not limited only to the partsshown, which are meant merely for the purpose of illustration. Also,while numerous details are set forth, it is understood that someembodiments of the invention may be practiced without these details. Inother instances, well-known circuits, structures, and techniques havenot been shown in detail so as not to obscure the understanding of thisdescription.

FIG. 1 illustrates an architectural diagram of PISA 100, according to anembodiment. An information storage system 102 may be a host entity thatis configured to communicatively couple a plurality of facilities, aplurality of users, and a communication platform. The informationstorage system 102 is configured to allow a facility manager 104 tomaintain facility information in a data store 106. In one example, thedata store 106 may be configured as at least one solid state drive thatstores the most frequently used data and a hard disk drive that storesless frequently used data. The data store 106 may store informationabout each facility in a plurality of data records, whereby inputs fromthe facility manager 104 will update the data records accordingly. Theinformation storage system 102 may also store information in a cloudsystem 108, which may include or be separate from the data store 106.Information in the data store 106 includes user information and containsPII of those users, but also associates the users with an identifiersuch that information about the users can be distributed to othercomponents of the PISA 100 without sharing the PII.

The data store 106 is connected to a content management application(CMA) 110. The CMA 110 is a user interface configured to allow editing,adding, and deleting content from the data records in the data store106. An PISA manager 112 may access the CMA 110 to edit information inthe data store 106. Additionally, the CMA 110 may be configured to allowinformation from the data records of the data store 106 to betransmitted to application servers 114.

The application servers 114 are depicted as a plurality of servers butmay be configured as a single server. The application servers 114 storeand execute a bot 116 that is communicatively coupled to a bot connector118 executing on a communication platform 120. Bot diagram 200 furtherdescribes a system architecture for the bot 116 and the bot connector118.

The communication platform 120 is communicatively coupled to theinformation storage system 102. The communication platform 120 mayexecute an application configured to allow a text-based or voice-basedcommunication via a computing device to another user, e.g., a chatapplication, a text message application native to an operating system,or a text message application hosted by a social networking platform.For example, the communication platform 120 may include an SMS provider122, an social media platforms 124, and/or a chat engine 126.

Communication platform 120 and the information storage system 102 arecommunicatively coupled to a facility system 128 for each facility. Thefacility system 128 may include a facility customer application (FCA)130 for each user and a facility management application (FMA) 132 foreach of the plurality of facilities. The application servers 114 hostthe application executed by the FCA 130 and FMA 132.

The FCA 130 is an application that has a user interface configured for acomputing device of a user 134 to input requests for the facility (e.g.,reservation, food order). Most requests from FCA 130 will becommunicated via communication platform 120. The application server 114receives information from the communication platform 120 and transmitsappropriate information to the FMA 132. In some instances, the FCA 130may communicate directly with the FMA 132. For example, the user 134 mayinteract with FCA 130 to conduct a real-time chat with a serviceprovider 136 or facility manager 138 of FMA 132.

FMA 132 is an application for the service provider 136 to maintainoperational information about the facility (e.g., reservations, users inline, incentives, user information). The FMA 132 may be connected to afacility server screen (FSS) 140. FSS 140 is an application configuredto provide information to a user interface for the facility manager 138regarding a particular aspect of the facility (e.g., food quantities ina restaurant). The FSS 140 communicates with the FMA 132 to update eachuser interface accordingly. According to an embodiment, real timeupdates are available between facility system 128 and informationstorage system 102, allowing user 134, service provider 136, and thefacility manager 138 to mutually access updated information availablefrom information storage system 102.

The FMA 132 receives information about the user's requests from theinformation storage system 102. However, the information does notinclude any PII of the user 134. In some instances, a first name orother identifier (e.g., username) may be used, but the FMA 132 does notreceive contact information or a full name of the user 134. If theservice provider 136 desires to contact the user 134, a message istransmitted to the information storage system 102 via the FMA 132 fordelivery on the communication platform 120.

In operation, the application server 114 may receive, via the FCA 130executed on a computing device of the user 134 during a session on achannel on a communication platform 120, a user request from the user134. For example, the user 134 may utilize social media in order toinitiate a chat session with the application server 114 via the FCA 130.The user may initiate the session (by initiating a chat session on athird-party website and selecting the application server 114 as arecipient of the chat session) and the application server 114 maydisplay the FCA 130 on the chat session on the third-party website. TheFCA 130 may be configured to receive user requests from the user 134(and other users not shown) via the user 134 computing device andtransmit the user requests to at least one of the bot 116 of theapplication server 114 or the FMA 132. The user requests may include PIIassociated with the users (e.g., age, sex, credit card number, and thelike). The FCA 130 may transmit the user request to the applicationserver 114 via the bot 116 or the bot connector 118. In someembodiments, the FCA 130 may also filter the sensitive PII and may nottransmit the PII to the FMA 132. The application server 114 may displaythe FCA 130 on a communication platform 120 displayed on a computingdevice associated with the user 134 (e.g., the application server 114may display the FCA 130 on the chat session used by the user 134). TheFCA 130 may then use the communication platform 120 to transmit the userrequest to various computing devices described above. The communicationplatform 120 may be configured to receive, from the FCA 130, the userrequests; the communication platform 120 may also be configured to routethe user request to the bot 116 of the application server 114 via thebot connector 118. The communication platform 120 may also be configuredto receive, from the facility system 128, a message corresponding to theuser request. The facility system 128 may also comprise a user interfaceassociated with the FMA 132, which is configured to be displayed on afacility computing device, wherein the user interface is configured toreceive data associated with the facility. The application server 114may allow the user 134 to communicate (via the FCA 130, bot 116, and/orbot connector 118) to various computing devices within the facilitysystem 128. The application server 114 may also update a plurality ofdata records within the data store 106 configured to store the pluralityof data records containing information about a plurality of facilities(including the facility system 128) and data records containinginformation about a plurality of users (including user 134 and otheruser not shown here), wherein the information about the plurality ofusers comprises personally identifiable information, wherein the serverupdates the plurality of data records based on the user request and themessage corresponding to the user request.

In a non-limiting example, the user 134 may initiate a chat session withthe application server 114 on a third party website (e.g., social mediawebsite) in order to reserve a table at a restaurant. Upon receiving anindication that a chat session has been initiated, the applicationserver 114 may cause the FCA 130 to be displayed within the chat sessionon the social media website. The user 134 may type the user request andrequest to reserve a table at a particular restaurant. The user 134 mayalso indicate the number of patrons, a reservation time, and may includePII (e.g., credit card number in order to confirm the reservation). TheFCA 130 may receive the data inputted by the user 134 and may utilizethe communication platform 120 to transmit the user request to the botconnector 118, which is configured to transmit the user request to thebot 116 (e.g., the bot connector 118 is configured to route messagesbetween the bot 116 of the application server 114 and the computingdevice of the user 134 via the channel of the communication platform 120(e.g., different channels such as channels 122-126)).

The application server 114 may also (via the bot 116) transmit the userrequest to FMA 132. The FMA 132 is configured to receive and transmitinformation about the user 134 and the user request, from the FCA 130via the bot 116 during the session, without any personally identifiableinformation of that user, update information about the facility in thedata store 106, and receive and transmit information about the user 134and the user request from the FCA 130 without communicating via the bot116 during the session. For example, FMA 132 may receive the userrequest (e.g., table reservation for the user 134) and may display theuser request on various computing devices associated with the facilitysystem 128. An operator (associated with any of the computing devices ofthe facility system 128) may receive the user request on a userinterface (e.g., FSS 140 and/or FMA 132) and may respond to the userrequest with a message corresponding to the user request (e.g.,confirming the reservations based on the time and the number ofpatrons). The corresponding message then is received by the applicationserver 114 (via FMA 132) and may transmit the message (via bot 116 andbot connector 118) to the FCA 130 (e.g., to be displayed to the user).The application server 114 may then update the data records within thedata store 106 to reflect the reservation of the user 134. In someembodiments, the application server may facilitate a direct chat sessionbetween the user 134 and an operator at the facility system 128. Forexample, if the user 134 needs special accommodations, the user 134 mayinput the special accommodations into the chat session and the FCA 130may transmit that special request directly to FMA 132 or FSS 140.

PISA 100 may also allow the facility manager 104 to input and accessfacility-related data into a data store 106, which is connected to acontent management application (CMA 110). Data within the CMA 110 may bereadily available for sharing with a PISA manager 112. Additionally,information from CMA 110 may also be shared with application servers114. In addition, data from the information storage system 102 may beshared with the communication platform 120 (and all the other componentsdescribed above). The communication platform 120 also shares informationwith a facility system 128, which may include a facility customerapplication (FCA 130) connected to a facility management application(FMA 132). In general, a facility manager 104 makes a limited intangiblegood available through FMA 132 included in PISA 100, and one or moreusers 134 are then able to sell, buy, bid, and exchange these goodsamongst each other through PISA 100 user experience (UX) (e.g.,different parties described within FIG. 1 and their interactions withnumerous user interfaces provided by the PISA 100.

In an embodiment, user 134 may use the chatbot of any of thecommunication platform 120 to access bot 116. The user 134 may thenrequest to join a virtual queue for a facility associated with the FMA132. The application server 114 may update the data records of CMA 110and Data store 106 and generate a virtual queue dataset representing thequeue for the facility. Upon receiving an indication from FMA 132, theapplication server 114 may then contact user 134 (via the bot, FCA, orany other numerous methods described above) and offer the user 134 andincentive to share his queue data with others on a social mediaplatform. Upon receiving approval, the application server 114 may thengenerate an interactive hyperlink configured to direct the user to thefacility and invite others to join the virtual queue and transmit thelink to the user 134's computing device. When the user 134 shares thehyperlink, the application server 114 may start monitoring whether anypotential customers have engaged with the link. When an indication isreceived that a potential customer has engaged (interacted by clickingor any other means) with the link, the application server may update thequeue dataset and add the potential customer to the virtual queue. Theuser 134 may then be compensated for each potential customer who jointhe virtual queue.

FIG. 2 illustrates a bot diagram 200 that may be employed by PISA 100through a chat application, according to an embodiment. In FIG. 2, a bot202 is connected to channels 206 via bot connector 204. Bot 202 may actas an automated agent that communicates and interacts with a customer134 employing channels 206 and connecting through bot connector 204. Bot202 simulates an intelligent conversation with a customer 134 (e.g.,used interchangeably with the user 134), and may be designed to providea semi-automated customer support for said customer 134. Bot 202 mayinclude a bot web service 208 for connection with PISA 100. Botconnector 204 may include several functions, such as routing messages210 from customer 134 via channels 206 to bot 202 and vice-versa;performing state management 212, meaning to manage all stored datawithin bot connector 204 at a given instant in time; performing botregistration 214 and managing a bot directory 216, allowing developersto release different bots 202 to the public (i.e. customers 134);performing session tracking 218, which is a way to track and maintainstate of a customer 134, more specifically recognizing a particularcustomer 134 when said customer 134 sends a request to bot 202 throughchannels 206; performing services 220 such as translation of text from acustomer 134 for clear comprehension of requests to bot 202, andtranslating bot 202 replies to customer 134 back to original languageemployed by said customer 134; allowing for per-user and per-bot storage222, referring to data storage per particular customer 134 related to acorresponding bot 202; enabling access to a software development kit(SDK 224), allowing for development of new bots 202 and modification ofexisting bots 202; and allowing access to application programminginterfaces (APIs 226) serving as interfaces for bots 202 and channels206 to communicate with each other and for performing standard CRUD(create, read, update, delete) operations. Channels 206 may includesuitable chat applications 230 such as Facebook Messenger™, LINE™,Skype™, Slack™, Skype™, and WhatsApp™, among others.

FIG. 3 illustrates an architectural diagram of an FCA 130 that may beemployed by PISA 100, according to an embodiment. In FIG. 3, FCA 130includes a client 302 with a web browser 304, mobile devices 306, chatapplication 230, and a website plugin 308. Client 302 is connected to aweb server 310 and is served presentation/user interface layer(presentation/UI layer 312) elements including UI components 314 and UIprocess components 316. Presentation/UI layer 312 may employ a cachingsystem to load certain UI assets into memcache to reduce load times.Mobile devices 306, chat application 230, website plugin 308, andexternal resources, if existent, may communicate with PISA platform API226. API 226 may be used to perform standard CRUD operations for PISA100. Web server 310 may additionally include cross cutting functions 318such as security 320, operational management 322, and communication 324.Security 320 may protect data by using user tokens and sessions.Operational management 322 may be used to suitably maintain factorsrelevant to business operation including business analytics, such ascustomer 134 count. Communication 324 may be employed to communicate tofacilities, employees, or customers. A business function layer 326 maybe used to hold business logic and rules, and may include applicationfacade 328, business workflow 330, business components 332, and businessentities 334. A data layer 336 may include data access components 338,data helpers/utilities 340, and service agents 342. Service agents 342may be utilized to retrieve various services per customer 134. Datalayer 336 may additionally hold data per application and communicatewith services feature 344 to sync data between database server 346.

FIG. 4 illustrates an architectural diagram of FMA 132 that may beemployed by PISA 100, according to an embodiment. FMA 132 may beemployed to update and provide real time information about facilityoperations. In FIG. 4, FMA 132 includes a client 402 with a web browser404 and mobile devices 406. Client 402 is connected to a web server 410and is served presentation/UI layer 412 elements including UI components414 and UI process components 416. Presentation/UI layer 412 may employa caching system to load certain UI assets into memcache to reduce loadtimes. Mobile devices 406 and external resources, if existent, maycommunicate with API 226 of PISA platform. API 226 may be used toperform standard CRUD operations for PISA 100. Web server 410 mayadditionally include cross cutting functions 418 such as security 420,operational management 422, and communication 424. Security 420 mayprotect data by using user tokens and sessions. Operational management422 may be used to maintain factors relevant to business operationincluding business analytics, such as customer 134 count. Communication424 may be employed to communicate to facilities, employees, orcustomers. A business function layer 426 may be used to hold businesslogic and rules, and may include application facade 428, businessworkflow 430, business components 432, and business entities 434. A datalayer 436 may include data access components 438, data helpers/utilities440, and service agents 442. Service agents 442 may be utilized toretrieve various services per customer 134. Data layer 436 mayadditionally hold data per application and communicate with servicesfeature 444 to sync data between database server 446.

FIG. 5 illustrates an architectural diagram of CMA 110 that may beemployed by PISA 100, according to an embodiment. CMA 110 may manage thefull life cycle of content components, from inception through removal.CMA 110 may create, maintain, and remove content components to and froma repository. In FIG. 5, CMA 110 includes a client 502 with a webbrowser 504. Client 502 is connected to a web server 510 and is servedpresentation/UI layer 512 elements including UI components 514 and UIprocess components 516. Presentation/UI layer 512 may employ a cachingsystem to load certain UI assets into memcache to reduce load times. Webserver 510 may additionally include cross cutting functions 518 such assecurity 520, operational management 522, and communication 524.Security 520 may protect data by using user tokens and sessions.Operational management 522 may be used to maintain factors relevant tobusiness operation including business analytics, such as customer 134count. Communication 524 may be employed to communicate to facilities,employees, or customers. A business function layer 526 may be used tohold business logic and rules, and may include application facade 528,business workflow 530, business components 532, and business entities534. A data layer 536 may include data access components 538, datahelpers/utilities 540, and service agents 542. Service agents 542 may beutilized to retrieve various services per customer 134. Data layer 536may additionally hold data per application and communicate with servicesfeature 544 to sync data between database server 546.

FIG. 6 illustrates an architectural diagram of PISA 100 applied foroptimizing operations in a restaurant including available seats, kitchensize, menu items, and staffing levels through management of a restaurantline, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 6 illustrates an architectural diagram of PISA 100 applied by auser 134 in a restaurant line to make line spot transactions withanother user 134 in the same restaurant line, according to anembodiment. In FIG. 6, an information storage system 102 allows for arestaurant manager 602 to input and access restaurant information intoan hard disk drive utilized by the data store 106, which is connected toa content management application (CMA 110). Information in CMA 110 maybe readily available for sharing with PISA manager 112. Additionally,information from CMA 110 may also be shared with application servers114. According to an embodiment, suitable information in informationstorage system 102 may include restaurant location, restaurant menu withfood types and prices, and restaurant wait time, amongst others.Information included in information storage system 102 may additionallybe stored in a suitable cloud system 108, such as Amazon® Web Service(AWS). In addition, information from information storage system 102 maybe shared with any other module within the described PISA 100, which mayinclude an in-application notification provider utilizing variousmethods disclosed in above. Application server 114 may also shareinformation with a restaurant bot 604, which may include a restaurantguest application (RGA 608) connected to a restaurant managementapplication (RMA 612). RMA 612 may in turn be also connected to akitchen server screen (KSS 610). RGA 608 registers requests and otherinformation from users 134.

According to an embodiment, real time updates are available betweenrestaurant bot 604 and information storage system module 102, allowing auser 134, host 614, and restaurant manager 616 to mutually accessinformation available from information storage system 102. For example,a request that affects a waiting line, such as a request from a user 134to swap a spot in a line with another user may be registered by RGA 608,transferred to RMA 612 and displayed to a restaurant manager 602 via KSS618. The request may also be shared with all elements of informationstorage system 102 so that the information database is kept continuouslyupdated. RMA 612 may as well allow a restaurant manager 602 to create arestaurant line. The term “lines”, as used herein, may refer to virtualrestaurant lines, meaning that users 134 do not stand physically in saidline.

FIG. 7 illustrates a preselected information sharing method 700 employedby PISA 100, according to an embodiment. Preselected information sharingmethod 700 may employ an architectural diagram of PISA 100 such as theone shown in FIG. 6. Preselected information sharing method 700 startswhen a restaurant manager creates a line through RMA 702. Then, RGAnotifies customers through application module about the creation of thenew line 704, which may be performed through an SMS, in-applicationnotifications, or chat applications connected to PISA 100. Subsequently,a customer 134 gets an option to get in line 706. In negative case, theprocess may end 708. In positive case, a customer gets in line 710.Afterwards, RGA gives an option to customers to share their status inline 712. In negative case, the process may end 708. In positive case,RGA shares data with suitable platforms within application module 714.

In cases of communication between RGA 606 and customers 134, RGA 606first communicates with RMA 612, which analyzes data and shares the datawith information storage system module 102. Therein, information isshared in a cloud system 108 and on to application server 114. Forexample, the fact of a customer 134 getting in line at a restaurant maybe shared to other potential customers 134 through suitable platformssuch as an SMS via an SMS provider (e.g., bot connector 118), a chat viaa chat engine 126, or social media via social media platforms 124. Otherpreselected information regarding a customer 134 restaurant line statusmay be shared through suitable platforms, such as the fact that acustomer 134 has made a transaction in line with other customers 134, orthat a customer 134 has moved one or more places in line. According toan embodiment, at moments when other potential customers 134 aredisplayed preselected information, potential customers 134 may also beprompted to get in line and to share their line status to otherpotential customers 134, thus increasing network effect and userdatabase for PISA 100 and facilities registered with PISA 100. Accordingto an embodiment, other features included in preselected informationsharing method 700 of PISA 100 include sharing preselected informationonly with targeted users. For example, when customers 134 sharepreselected information with other potential customers 134, they may beprovided an option to select only a certain segment of their contacts,such as closer friends in social media platforms 124, individualpotential customers 134 through SMS with a link to preselectedinformation, individual chats through chat engine 126, and the like. Inone embodiment, a system comprises an application module, including atleast one in app notification provider configured to deliver real-timecommunication to a facility module, said facility module configured witha facility management application; an information storage system moduleincluding application servers, rapid storage technology and separatecontent management application configured and arranged to enable torapid transfer of communications and processing of information withinthe integrated communications system application; wherein real-timeupdates and real-time chats are communicated between the informationstorage module and the facility module. In this example, once customersare virtually in line, customers may be prompted to share preselectedinformation (e.g., customer is in line, is making a transaction in line,and is moving one or more spots in line) in real time through suitableplatforms including SMS provider, chat engine, and social mediaplatforms.

FIG. 8 shows execution steps for a method for promoting a facility,according to an exemplary method 800. The exemplary method 800 shown inFIG. 8 comprises execution steps 802, 804, 806, 808, 810, 812, 814, and816. However, it should be appreciated that other embodiments maycomprise additional or alternative execution steps, or may omit one ormore steps altogether. It should also be appreciated that otherembodiments may perform certain execution steps in a different order;steps may also be performed simultaneously or near-simultaneously withone another. In addition, the exemplary method 800 of FIG. 8 isdescribed as being executed by a single server computer in thisexemplary embodiment. However, one having skill in the art willappreciate that, in some embodiments, steps may be executed by anynumber of computing devices operating in a distributed computingenvironment. In some cases, a computer executing one or more steps maybe programmed to execute various other, unrelated features, where suchcomputer does not need to be operating strictly as the security serverdescribed herein.

In a first step 802, a server may generate instructions to query aplurality of data records within a database. The database may beconfigured to store the data records. The data records stored in thedatabase may contain information about a plurality of facilities. Thedata records stored in the database may further contain informationabout a queue dataset associated with each facility. For example, theplurality of facilities may include a plurality of restaurants. The datarecords associated to each of the plurality of facilities may contain aqueue dataset. The queue dataset associated to each of the plurality offacilities may contain a record of one or more users in a queue for eachof the plurality of facilities. As used herein the words “user” may besynonymous with the word “customer” as the person, or groups of peoplewho are receiving the services of a facility such as a restaurant/cafe.

In some embodiments, the data records stored in the database may containa queue dataset for each of the plurality of facilities where each userwithin each queue dataset may have a rank value. The server may assign arank value to each user within each queue dataset based on a rankingalgorithm. In some embodiments, the ranking algorithm may include one ormore software program and/or instructions, which may be executed by theserver to assign a rank value to each user within each queue datasetassociated to each of the plurality of facilities based on a position ofeach user within each queue associated to each of the plurality offacilities.

In some embodiments, the server may identify a first queue dataset fromthe plurality of data records within the database. The server mayidentify the first queue dataset corresponding to a first facility. Thefirst queue dataset may include one or more users such as a first user,and the first user may have a rank value such as first rank among theone or more users in the queue dataset associated to the first facility.In some embodiments, the server may identify a plurality of queuedatasets from the plurality of data records within the database. Theserver may further identify the plurality of queue datasetscorresponding to a plurality of facilities. Each of the plurality ofqueue datasets may have one or more users and each of the one or moreusers may have a rank value.

In a next step 804, a first session may be established between acomputing device of a first user in a first queue dataset correspondingto a first facility and a server. In this example, the computing deviceof the first user in the first queue dataset may be a personal digitalassistant (PDA), although the computing devices could be other types ofpersonal wireless computing devices such as a portable media players, aportable gaming systems, phones, and/or other similar devices. Suchwireless computing devices may be handheld, body-worn, head-worn, orotherwise portably carried about by the first user.

In some embodiments, the server may initiate the first session with thecomputing device of the first user. The first session between thecomputing device of the first user and the server may be operable onmultiple channels within a communication platform such as web-basedchannel, a telephone-based channel, or the like operable on thecomputing device of the first user. The web-based channel may includeany communication applications operable on a web domain at the computingdevice of the first user such as but not limited to Facebook, Skype,Yahoo etc. The telephone-based channel may include any communicationapplications operable on a telephone domain at the computing device ofthe first user such as but not limited to SMS, MMS, Whatsapp, Line,WeChat etc.

In some embodiments, a communication session between the computingdevice of the first user and the server may begin when a first useroperating the computing device is properly authenticated as a user bythe server. Upon authentication of the first user by the server, theuser may select a web-based channel and/or a telephone-based channel toestablish the session with the server. The web-based channel and/or thetelephone-based channel applications may be installed on the computingdevice of the first user, and the first user may be provided with anoption to select at least one channel installed on the computing deviceto establish the session with the server. In some embodiments, acommunication channel for exchanging text or voice messages may beinbuilt in the computing device of the first user, and the first usermay select the inbuilt channel available on a facility customerapplication installed on the computing device to establish thecommunication session with the server.

Upon generation of the session between the computing device of the firstuser and the server, the server and/or the computing device of the firstuser may generate a session record for a web-based interaction betweenthe computing device of the first user and the server. The sessionrecord generated by the server and/or the computing device of the firstuser may contain data fields related to the interaction between theserver and/or the computing device of the first user, such as a sessionidentifier, a timestamp, a first user identifier, and source deviceinformation identifying the computing device (e.g., IP address, MACaddress) of the first user. In some embodiments, the session recordgenerated by the server and/or the computing device of the first usermay include one or more session attributes that may include at least adevice identifier uniquely identifying the computing device of the firstuser. The device identifier uniquely identifying the computing device ofthe first user may be selected from a group consisting at least one of aphone number, an IP address, and a device ID.

Upon the generation and the activation of the session between the serverand the computing device of the first user, the server may then transmita first notification to the computing device of the first user. Thefirst notification may include a request to share the first user's firstranking value and an incentive value for the first user. For example,the server may request the first user of the computing device to providea rank value in the queue in the queue dataset of the first facility(for example, a restaurant). The server may also request the first userof the computing device to provide an incentive the first user isinterested in such as discount option, reward option, cash option, orthe like in order to promote the first facility, as described in FIG.9D. For example, the server may display an option for the user and querythe user as to whether the user is interested in sharing his queueinformation with others on a social media platform.

In a next step 806, a server may receive a response from the first userduring the first session between the server and/or the computing deviceof the first user regarding the inputs for the first user's rankingvalue in the queue of the first facility and the incentive value for thefirst user. In some embodiments, the computing device of the first usermay only provide the answers in response to the request received fromthe server regarding the first user's ranking value in the queue of thefirst facility and the incentive value for the first user. In someembodiments, the computing device of the first user may also provideadditional information in addition to the answers for the requestreceived from the server regarding the first user's ranking value in thequeue of the first facility and the incentive value for the first userwhere the additional information may include one or more offers thefirst user in interested in that are not mentioned in the incentivesoffered by the server.

In some embodiments, the server upon receiving the answers for thequestions in the request from the computing device of the first user,the server may then generate an interactive hyperlink. The interactivehyperlink generated by the server may be a string of text or a computergraphic that any user can “click” with the mouse pointer, which willimmediately load a new browser page that the hyperlink is programmed topresent to the users. For example, the interactive hyperlink may beconfigured such that upon activation of the interactive hyperlink by anyuser, the interactive hyperlink may direct the user to a web pagecontaining an identification of the first facility, a first rankingvalue of the first user, and an invitation to join the first queue ofthe first facility.

In some embodiments, the interactive hyperlink may be configured to bedisplayed in a message disseminated on a social media account associatedwith the first user. For instance, in a next step 808, upon generationof the interactive hyperlink, the server may transmit the interactivehyperlink to a social media application executing on the computingdevice of the first user. The social media application may include butnot limited to Facebook, Twitter, Blog, Sound Cloud, or the like. Insome embodiments, the server may have pre-authorized approval from thefirst user to transmit the interactive hyperlink to each social mediaapplication being executed on the computing device of the first user. Insome embodiments, the server may request for an approval from the firstuser to publish the interactive hyperlink to each social mediaapplication being executed on the computing device of the first user,and upon receiving the approval from the first user, the server may thentransmit the interactive hyperlink to the social media applicationsauthorized by the first user that are being executed on the computingdevice of the first user. Upon the receipt of the interactive hyperlinkon the social media applications being executed on the computing deviceof the first user, the server may then generate and execute instructionsthat cause each of the social media applications being executed on thecomputing device of the first user to generate a message containing theinteractive hyperlink on social media accounts associated with the firstuser on each of the social media applications. For example, if the firstuser has a Twitter account, the server may then publish (for instance,tweet) the interactive hyperlink using the Twitter account of the firstuser. The server may (using various API technology) generate a socialmedia message and embed the hyperlink within the social media messageand direct the user to “share” the message himself.

In a next step 810, a server may receive an indication that a seconduser operating a second computing device has activated the interactivehyperlink published on the social media applications of the first user.For example, the server may receive a notification and/or a message eachtime the interactive hyperlink published on the social mediaapplications of the first user is clicked by any user. The notificationand/or the message received by the server may include but not limited toa name of the social media application of the first user on which theinteractive hyperlink was clicked, a date and time at which theinteractive hyperlink was clicked, and a device identifier uniquelyidentifying the second computing device of the second user. The deviceidentifier uniquely identifying the computing device of the second usermay be selected from a group consisting at least one of a phone number,an IP address, and a device ID.

In a next step 812, a server upon receiving the indication that thesecond user operating the second computing device has activated theinteractive hyperlink published on the social media application of thefirst user may then initiate a session (for example, a second session)with the computing device of the second user. In some embodiments, thesecond session between the server and the computing device of the seconduser may be operable on multiple second channels within a secondcommunication platform such as web-based channel, a telephone-basedchannel, or the like operable on the computing device of the seconduser. The web-based channel may include any communication applicationsoperable on a web domain at the computing device of the second user suchas but not limited to Facebook, Skype, Yahoo etc. The telephone-basedchannel may include any communication applications operable on atelephone domain at the computing device of the second user such as butnot limited to SMS, MMS, Whatsapp, Line, WeChat etc.

In some embodiments, a second communication session between the serverand the computing device of the second user may begin when the seconduser operating the computing device is properly authenticated as a userby the server. Upon authentication of the second user by the server, thesecond user may select a web-based channel and/or a telephone-basedchannel to establish the second session with the server. The web-basedchannel and/or the telephone-based channel applications may be installedon the computing device of the second user, and the second user may beprovided with an option to select at least one channel installed on thecomputing device to establish the second session with the server. Insome embodiments, a second communication channel for exchanging text orvoice messages may be inbuilt in the computing device of the seconduser, and the second user may then select the inbuilt channel on thecomputing device to establish the second communication session with theserver.

Upon generation of the second session between the computing device ofthe second user and the server, the server and/or the computing deviceof the second user may then generate a session record for a web-basedinteraction between the computing device of the second user and theserver. The session record generated by the server and/or the computingdevice of the second user may contain data fields related to theinteraction between the server and/or the computing device of the seconduser, such as a session identifier, a timestamp, and source deviceinformation identifying the computing device (e.g., IP address, MACaddress) of the second user. In some embodiments, the session recordgenerated by the server and/or the computing device of the second usermay include one or more session attributes that may include at least adevice identifier uniquely identifying the computing device of thesecond user. The device identifier uniquely identifying the computingdevice of the second user may be selected from a group consisting atleast one of a phone number, an IP address, and a device ID.

Upon the generation and the activation of the session between the serverand the computing device of the second user, the server may thentransmit a second notification to the computing device of the seconduser. In some embodiments, the second notification may include a requestto confirm an identifier data associated with the second user. In someembodiments, the second notification may include a request to providethe identifier data associated with the second user. The identifier dataassociated with the second user may include a name of the second user,contact information of the second user, and a device identifier of thecomputing device of the second user.

In a next step 814, the computing device of the second user on receivingthe request from the server may confirm the identifier data receivedfrom the server or may transmit the identifier data associated with thesecond user to the server. The server upon receiving the identifier dataassociated with the second user from the computing device of the seconduser may then update the first queue dataset associated to the firstfacility in the database to include the data associated with the seconduser within the first queue dataset. For example, the server may add thesecond user name into the queue for the first facility when the seconduser confirms to the server to visit the first facility post theactivation of the interactive hyperlink on the social media applicationof the first user.

In a next step 816, server may transmit a third notification to thecomputing device of the first user. The server may transmit the thirdnotification to the computing device of the first user during a session.In some embodiments, when the server determines that the session withthe computing device of the first user has been terminated, the servermay request a new session with the computing device of the first user.Upon the beginning of a new session between the server and the computingdevice of first user, the server may then transmit a notificationmessage indicating the confirmation that the second user has activatedthe interactive hyperlink on the social media application of the firstuser and the second user has been included in the first queue dataset ofthe first facility. The server may also transmit a notification messageto the computing device of first user corresponding to the incentiveamount that has been transferred to an account associated with the firstuser.

In some embodiments, the server may also cause a graphical userinterface displayed on a computing device of the first facility todisplay a notification where the notification may include the identifierdata associated with the second user and the first queue dataset. Forexample, if the queue of the first facility had 4 users, then server mayupdate the queue to 5 user by adding the second user into the queue ofthe first facility and subsequently publish the updated queue on thegraphical user interface of the computing device of the first facility.

FIG. 9A shows a graphical user interface 900 showing a webpage 916executed on a computing device of a user, according to an exemplaryembodiment. In some embodiments, the computing device may be anyportable or non-portable device, such as a desktop computer, a laptopcomputer, a tablet computer, a smart phone, a smart watch, a gamingconsole, a personal digital assistant, or the like. The computing devicemay include a processor/microcontroller and/or any other electroniccomponent that performs one or more operations according to one or moreprogramming instructions. The computing device may be capable ofcommunicating with a system server through a communications networkusing wired or wireless communication capabilities.

A facility customer application (FCA) may be installed on the computingdevice of the user or may be configured to display on a website of afacility. For example, a facility manager may generate the FCA as awidget 918 configured to communicate with different users and the widget918 may be displayed on the website of the facility. A server may haveaccess to one or more databases or pre-stored web-based interfaces, suchas webpages, comprising a number of preconfigured sub-interfaces, orcontainers, that are dynamically populated (e.g., widget box 918). Forexample, facility webpages may contain code, such as HTML or PHP,presenting a website of any number of webpages having a common“look-and-feel.” One or more outputs or results may display webpages 916that may contain additional code for containers, where the containercode displays an FCA widget 918. A user may access a webpage 916 andinteract with the server via the FCA widget 918. In someimplementations, the server may be configured to require userauthentication based upon a set of user authorization credentials (e.g.,username, password, biometrics, cryptographic certificate) to provideaccess to the FCA on the computing device. For example, the server mayaccess a system database configured to store the user credentials, whichthe webserver may be configured to reference in order to determinewhether a set of entered credentials purportedly authenticating the usermatch an appropriate set of credentials that identify and authenticatethe user. Similarly, in some implementations, the webserver may generateand serve applications/webpages associated to the facility customerapplication to the computing device based upon a user membershipaccount. In some embodiments, the webserver may generate and serveapplications/webpages associated to the facility (such as the webpage916) to the computing device based upon a user role. In suchimplementations, a user role may be defined by data fields in the userrecords stored in the system database, and authentication of the userand the user role may be conducted by the webserver by executing anaccess directory protocol.

During operation, a user may accesses the webpage 916 by any commonaccess method, e.g., keying in a URL, selecting from search results,etc., and submit user credentials to access the facility customerapplication. Upon the webserver authenticating the user usingcredentials that identify the user as a valid member of the facility,the user is presented the FCA (via the widget box 918). The widget box918 may be a description window that may provide information regarding acurrent waiting time for a lunch/dinner reservation and data fields forinformation to be submitted to make a reservation at the facility. Forinstance, the user may enter information, such as date, time, number ofguests, call back number, and name, and clicks on the “Get in Line”button 920 in the widget box 918. The user may be able to make thereservation at any time of day, and therefore the restaurant/facilitydoes not need to be open, so the user does not need to wait for aninconvenient time to telephone the restaurant.

FIG. 9B shows a graphical user interface 902 showing a webpage of afacility management application (FMA) of a facility, according to anexemplary embodiment. When the user clicks on the Get in Line button 920on the FCA widget 918 at the computing device, a request of thereservation is transmitted to the restaurant and is displayed in a queue922 on the FMA at the facility computing system of therestaurant/facility. The reservation of the user may be confirmed via achat session using an application server prior to adding userinformation in the queue 922 displayed on the graphical user interface902 of the facility computing system at the facility. The queue 922 maydisplay names and data of others users such as current status ofreservation for each user (for example, seated or waiting time for eachuser) and party size of each user. The FMA displayed on the graphicaluser interface 902 may also indicate multiple options such as an optionfor a restaurant manager to turn on (or turn off) a skip the link option(e.g., allow or deny users the option to switch their place within therestaurant line or the queue dataset). The FMA displayed on thegraphical user interface 902 may also integrate information regardingthe restaurant. For example, the FMA may allow the restaurant manager toenter data regarding the restaurant, such as walk in tables, usersalready seated (e.g., number of patrons already seated at therestaurant). In some embodiments, the server may continuously update thequeue dataset based on the information received from the FMA. Forexample, if the server received an indication that a user has walked in(via the FMA), the queue dataset and other pertinent information (e.g.,estimated wait time for new user using the FCA to join the restaurantline) may be updated and the FMA graphical user interface 902 mayreflect the changes.

FIG. 9C shows a graphical user interface 904 showing a webpage of a FMAof a facility, according to an exemplary embodiment. As discussed, whenthe user clicks on the Get in Line button 920 on the facility customerapplication at the computing device, a request of the reservation istransmitted to the restaurant and is displayed in a queue list 924 on afacility management application (FMA) at the facility computing systemof the restaurant/facility. The queue list 924 may display names anddata of others users such as phone number of each user, current statusof reservation for each user (such as seated or waiting time for eachuser), party size of each user, and current location of each user. Thequeue list 924 may further display a plurality of tabs for anadministrator of a facility to cancel (using cancel tab) or edit (usingedit tab) the reservation for any user in the queue and then notify(using notify tab) the user regarding any change in status of thereservation of the user.

FIG. 9D shows a graphical user interface 906 showing a webpage of afacility customer application (FCA) executed on a computing device of auser, according to an exemplary embodiment. Upon the user being addedinto the queue list 924, the facility management application maytransmit a confirmation message to the facility customer application atthe computing device of the user. Upon receipt of the confirmationmessage on the facility customer application at the computing device ofthe user, the facility customer application at the computing device ofthe user may display a plurality of tabs 926 indicating a tab for aranking number in the queue for a user, a tab to invite the user toshare his information with other users on his social media platform, atab to sell their place/position in the queue, and a tab to request toskip the line in the queue for a pre-determined amount. The user of thecomputing device may select any tab such as a tab to sell their place inthe queue for a pre-determined amount and thereby initiate and transmita request to auction/sell their place in the queue to other users inreturn of the pre-determined amount.

The foregoing method descriptions and the process flow diagrams areprovided merely as illustrative examples and are not intended to requireor imply that the steps of the various embodiments must be performed inthe order presented. As will be appreciated by one of skill in the artthe steps in the foregoing embodiments may be performed in any order.Words such as “then,” “next,” etc. are not intended to limit the orderof the steps; these words are simply used to guide the reader throughthe description of the methods. Although process flow diagrams maydescribe the operations as a sequential process, many of the operationscan be performed in parallel or concurrently. In addition, the order ofthe operations may be re-arranged. A process may correspond to a method,a function, a procedure, a subroutine, a subprogram, etc. When a processcorresponds to a function, its termination may correspond to a return ofthe function to the calling function or the main function.

The various illustrative logical blocks, modules, and algorithm stepsdescribed in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may beimplemented as electronic hardware, computer software, or combinationsof both. To clearly illustrate this interchangeability of hardware andsoftware, various illustrative components, blocks, modules, and stepshave been described above generally in terms of their functionality.Whether such functionality is implemented as hardware or softwaredepends upon the particular application and design constraints imposedon the overall system. Skilled artisans may implement the describedfunctionality in varying ways for each particular application, but suchimplementation decisions should not be interpreted as causing adeparture from the scope of the present invention.

Embodiments implemented in computer software may be implemented insoftware, firmware, middleware, microcode, hardware descriptionlanguages, or any combination thereof. A code segment ormachine-executable instructions may represent a procedure, a function, asubprogram, a program, a routine, a subroutine, a module, a softwarepackage, a class, or any combination of instructions, data structures,or program statements. A code segment may be coupled to another codesegment or a hardware circuit by passing and/or receiving information,data, arguments, parameters, or memory contents. Information, arguments,parameters, data, etc. may be passed, forwarded, or transmitted via anysuitable means including memory sharing, message passing, token passing,network transmission, etc.

The actual software code or specialized control hardware used toimplement these systems and methods is not limiting of the invention.Thus, the operation and behavior of the systems and methods weredescribed without reference to the specific software code beingunderstood that software and control hardware can be designed toimplement the systems and methods based on the description herein.

When implemented in software, the functions may be stored as one or moreinstructions or code on a non-transitory computer-readable orprocessor-readable storage medium. The steps of a method or algorithmdisclosed herein may be embodied in a processor-executable softwaremodule, which may reside on a computer-readable or processor-readablestorage medium. A non-transitory computer-readable or processor-readablemedia includes both computer storage media and tangible storage mediathat facilitate transfer of a computer program from one place toanother. A non-transitory processor-readable storage media may be anyavailable media that may be accessed by a computer. By way of example,and not limitation, such non-transitory processor-readable media maycomprise RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage,magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any othertangible storage medium that may be used to store desired program codein the form of instructions or data structures and that may be accessedby a computer or processor. Disk and disc, as used herein, includecompact disc (CD), laser disc, optical disc, digital versatile disc(DVD), floppy disk, and Blu-ray disc where disks usually reproduce datamagnetically, while discs reproduce data optically with lasers.Combinations of the above should also be included within the scope ofcomputer-readable media. Additionally, the operations of a method oralgorithm may reside as one or any combination or set of codes and/orinstructions on a non-transitory processor-readable medium and/orcomputer-readable medium, which may be incorporated into a computerprogram product.

What is claimed is:
 1. A computer-implemented method comprising: inresponse to receiving a request from a first electronic device operatedby a first user within a queue of a facility, generating, by a server,an interactive hyperlink configured to direct a second electronic deviceto a web page containing an identification of the facility, a positionof the first user within the queue, and an invitation to join the queue,wherein the interactive hyperlink is configured to be displayed in amessage disseminated on social media accounts; transmitting, by theserver, the interactive hyperlink to a social media applicationassociated with the first user and executing on the first electronicdevice, whereby a social media server electronically publishes theinteractive hyperlink; in response to receiving an indication that asecond user operating the second electronic device has activated theinteractive hyperlink: transmitting, by the server to the firstelectronic device, a notification comprising an indicator of the seconduser and a request for approval to transfer the position of the firstuser within the queue to the second user; in response to receiving anapproval from the first electronic device, transmitting, by the serverto the second electronic device, data associated with the queuecomprising a confirmation that the second user has been added to thequeue.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the server communicates with atleast one of the first and second electronic devices using an automatedbot protocol.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the server causes thesocial media application to generate the message containing theinteractive hyperlink on a social media account associated with thefirst user.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the notification furthercomprises a monetary incentive amount to be transferred from the seconduser for transferring the first user's position within the queue.
 5. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the server rearranges a dataset associatedwith the queue to include the second user instead of the first user. 6.The method of claim 1, wherein the web page further displays anestimated wait time.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the interactivehyperlink does not include any personally identifiable informationassociated with the first user.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein theinteractive hyperlink is transmitted, by the server, directly to thefirst electronic device.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the firstelectronic device transmits the interactive hyperlink to the secondelectronic device.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the servertransmits a second notification a computer associated with the facility,the second notification comprising at least one of an indication of thequeue and data associated with the second user.
 11. A computer systemcomprising: a first electronic device operated by a first user within aqueue of a facility; a second electronic device operated by a seconduser; a server in communication with at least the first electronicdevice, the server configured to: in response to receiving a requestfrom the first electronic device, generate an interactive hyperlinkconfigured to direct a second electronic device to a web page containingan identification of the facility, a position of the first user withinthe queue, and an invitation to join the queue, wherein the interactivehyperlink is configured to be displayed in a message disseminated onsocial media accounts; transmit the interactive hyperlink to a socialmedia application associated with a first user operating the firstelectronic device, whereby a social media server electronicallypublishes the interactive hyperlink; in response to receiving anindication that a second user operating the second electronic device hasactivated the interactive hyperlink: transmitting, to the firstelectronic device, a notification comprising an indicator of the seconduser and a second request for approval to transfer the position of thefirst user within the queue to the second user; in response to receivingan approval from the first electronic device, transmit, to the secondelectronic device, data associated with the queue comprising aconfirmation that the second user has been added to the queue.
 12. Thesystem of claim 11, wherein the server is further configured tocommunicate with at least one of the first and second electronic devicesusing an automated bot.
 13. The system of claim 11, wherein the serveris further configured to cause the social media application to generatethe message containing the interactive hyperlink on a social mediaaccount associated with the first user.
 14. The system of claim 11,wherein the notification further comprises a monetary incentive amountto be transferred from the second user for transferring the first user'sposition within the queue.
 15. The system of claim 11, wherein theserver is configured to rearrange a dataset associated with the queue toinclude the second user instead of the first user.
 16. The system ofclaim 11, wherein the web page further displays an estimated wait time.17. The system of claim 11, wherein the interactive hyperlink does notinclude any personally identifiable information associated with thefirst user.
 18. The system of claim 11, wherein the interactivehyperlink is transmitted, by the server, directly to the firstelectronic device.
 19. The system of claim 18, wherein the firstelectronic device transmits the interactive hyperlink to the secondelectronic device.
 20. The system of claim 11, wherein the server isfurther configured to transmit a second notification a computerassociated with the facility, the second notification comprising atleast one of an indication of the queue and data associated with thesecond user.